[Vol. 3 

 320 ANNALS OF THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN 



because of the more favorable position of the terminal cell. 

 I have frequently observed a spore attached to some one or 

 other of the upper three cells of the spore-bearing organ but 

 have seen such attachment to the fourth cell only in S. cas- 

 taneum, although often noting on the fourth cell in some spe- 

 cies a lateral protuberance similar to those to which spores 

 were attached in the upper cells. The spore-bearing stage is 

 apparently of very brief duration, judging by the few collec- 

 tions which show this stage well. Specimens are usually col- 

 lected sterile or with probasidia. It is hoped that the record 

 given as to the month when each of our species has been col- 

 lected in spore-bearing condition may aid in securing more 

 valuable specimens for study in the future. 



Septobasidium is not one of the genera of the ThelepJwra- 

 ceae, for its spore-producing organs are not simple basidia. 

 The genus is treated here merely for the convenience of 

 students of the Theleplioraceae, as in the case of Tremel- 

 Jodendroti, Eichleriella, and Sebaciiia. The coriaceous struc- 

 ture and resupinate habit of the species of Septobasidium 

 are so similar to those of Corticium and other resupinate 

 genera of the Thelephoraceae that examination by the micro- 

 scope of sections of the fructification is necessary to distin- 

 guish an unfamiliar species of Septobasidium from Corti- 

 cium, etc. Many of the known species of Septobasidium were 

 originally published as Corticiums and Thelephoras, and it 

 is probable that careful study of authentic specimens of the 

 earlier species of these genera will lead to the transfer of 

 additional species to Septobasidium. It is possible that some 

 authors may have mistaken the pyriform to globose pro- 

 basidia of species of Septobasidium for conidia and have 

 published such species as Hyplxomycetes. The probasidia 

 may be distinguished from hyphomycetous spores by the 

 former bodies remaining attached to the hyphae; the pro- 

 basidia do not float about loose in preparations. 



I am indebted to Dr. E. P. Burke for transmitting to me 

 in fresh condition spore-bearing material of three species 

 of Septobasidium. Spore falls were obtained from this ma- 

 terial for germination experiments and some material was 



